Ryan Throws 3 TDs, Falcons Hold Off Vikings 24-14

By Associated PressMatt Ryan tossed three touchdown passes and the Atlanta Falcons held on again, beating the Minnesota Vikings 24-14 on Nov. 27.

Atlanta (7-4) remains in second place in the NFC South behind New Orleans after the Saints (8-3) defeated the Giants on Nov. 28.

The Falcons were up 17-0 at halftime after allowing just 97 yards. Ryan hooked up with Harry Douglas on a 27-yard touchdown and Roddy White on a 6-yarder.

But, mimicking the previous week’s closer-than-necessary victory over Tennessee, they let Minnesota (2-9) back in the game.

Toby Gerhart, filling in for injured Adrian Peterson, scored from the 1-yard out late in the third quarter. Then, after Dominique Franks inadvertently touched a punt the Falcons were trying to avoid to set up a Vikings recovery, Christian Ponder went to Percy Harvin for a 39-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-13 to make it 17-14.

However, Ryan responded with a 3-yard scoring pass to backup Michael Palmer, and the Falcons held on downs after Harvin’s 104-yard kickoff return to the Atlanta 3.